The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-16
A DEVASTlTIAG CYCLONE
SWEEPS THROUGH ST. CLAIR.
WILLIE AND MARTINS FERRY,
DemOlishing Houses, Snapplng Trees
or Like Pipe Stems, PrOstrat-
ing Horses and lattle
AND Carrying THEM BODILY
FOR HUNDREDS OF YARDS.
The Sky Was Darkened With Clouds
OF Flying DebrIs-Very Few
Casualties TO Persons.

first genuine cyclone ever witnessed
in this vicinity was experienced this
afternoon and wrought devastation
over q section of country extending
from st. Clairsyille, o., ten miles to a
point as far east as this city. Little
damage was done, the high hills on
both sides of the river sheltering the
houses, but the commotion In the
upper air was noticed and few roofs
were damaged. The storm was first
felt at Ut. Clairsville. at 3:l5 o'clock
pm. 1t appeared to be travelling from
the west, and in the shi pe Of funnel
shaped mass Of cloud resembling in
appearance dense black smoke. The
cone was downward and could be
plainly traced over its tack by the
destruction it left.
HOUSES WE'RE DEMoLIsBBD, TREES
SNAPPED OFF
like pipe stems, horses and cattle pros
trated and carried bodily hundreds Of
yards by the gale, and the sky was
darkened with the clouds of flying
debris. The storm and its effects
showed all the distinguishing charac-
teristics of the Western cyclone. 1t
first struck two new brick houses, be-
longing to Col. Patton and Judge Coch-
ran. west of town, and frame house
belonging to Mr.. Coleman. All
three we're completely demolished and
the furniture and portions OF the roo
and walls scattered along the track OF
the cyclone clean to the end Of the
town, mile distant. A large mansion
on the corner of Marietta and Man
streets was cut off clean at the second
floor and the walls and roofs scat cred
in fragments. The First National
Bank block and O. Trail & Co.'S dry
goods store
WERE ALMOST SWEPT FROM THEIR SITES,
only portion of the lower walls being
left standing The dwellings and bust
ness blocks of l. II. Patterson, drug
gist; l. Eperson, grocer, and James
Patterson, dry goods, had the upper
walls and roof swept off and The lower
part OF the house badly damaged by
falling bricks and timbers. the Ma
tional Hotel, Mrs. Evans's large brick
residence and probably forty other
houses were less seriously damaged.
No casualties to persons are reported,
the funnel shaped cloud having been
seen approaching in time for the fsmi-
lies to take refuge in cellars. Ben
Parkehurst's fac old brick mansion
eouth of town waa totally demolished,
likewise the United Pfesby ;erian
Church, large brick edifiGe. The loss
in st Clairville will reach 100000.
The Western Union wires and poles
are al down. Horses hitched in the
streets were blown about like chPH
aud the vehicles demolished. A
scantling sailed through the air for q
mile and cut as clean hole ia the Two
walls of brick house as Canon ball
would. Shingles were driven through
weather boarding like arrows. James
F. Anderson, Of Bsllsir, had just
hitched buggy in the etreet when
someone shouted warning TO him.
He clutched telegraph role, which
snapped off Just above his head. TIE
Hon. l.. Danford was sitting in his law
Office when an entire
CHIMNEY CRASHED THROUGH THE Grill.
ING
and floor leaving him unharmed. At
Barton Station, four miles north, q
new brick house YVES leveled to sthe
ground. At Pasco, five miles west Of
this city, on the National road, the
brick house of A. Hinkle was demol.
ished and he badly hurt. Large
tracks of wood between here and st.
Clairville have not tree uninjured,
while most Of them are fiat on the
ground. The town Of Bridgeport,
lust across the river, escaped, as did
Wheeling, bat funeral was In the
cemetery on the hill at the time, and the
carriages we're blown over and carried
az lust treee, tombstones snapping
off az they blew over them. Martins
Ferry, on the opposite side OF the
river, nj the north end os town, SUI
fered even more severely than st.
Olairsville. Here broad valley gave
direction to the destroying gale, which
licked up forests and farmhouses and
scattered fences in its path down the
hollow, widening out as it struck the
little city, and
SCATTERING DESTRUCTION EVERYWHERE
The Elson Glass Works had one
brick building blown down on the
hill. The brick residence Of ]. II.
Drennen, editor of the NetOs, was 30
badly blown up that no brick was lett
on another. L w. Bsiley's fine resi-
denee was leveled to the ground.
Henry Heling's eight houses, barns
and shede, were all destroyed. In
the town proper seventy five to g
bundled houses were more or less
DAMAGED, aad the loss will reach
$165, 900. Watson's Grove, a fine
park, has but fsw Of the 300 lofty trees
standing; the city cemetery adjoining
was similarly unfortunate. The stove
foundry was partially demolished.
Jas. r. Reilly's house aud saloon was
blown down and Mrs Reilly was pulled
unconscious from the ruins and may
die. Here the storm struck the tewn
at 4 pm. without warning, and it ia
wonderful that more injury to life was
not done.